Tilling-machine.



W. C. ZELLE.

TILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1912.

1,230,261., Patented June 19, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

45% awa.

W. C. ZELLE.

TILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. m2.

1,230,261 v Patented June 19, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2- W. C. ZELLE.

TILLIN G MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1912.

Patented June 19, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' w. c. ZELLE.

TILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17. 1912.

1,230,261. Patented 111116 19, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

5 fiveza0 Wiim ZeZZe,

W. C. ZELLE.

TlLLlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, I912- 1,230,261 Patented June 19, 1917.

6 SHEETS-sHEET 5-- W. C. ZELLE.

TILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1912.

1,230,261 Patented June 19, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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an s'rnrns Parana enrich.

WILLIAM C. ZELLE, OFST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO PLANTATIONEQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

ermine-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented awe is, neat.

Application filed June 17, 1912. Serialito. 704,086.

adapted for plowing and otherwise breaking and treating the soil, bothpreliminary to planting and in the cultivation of growingcrops; todirectly support from a motorpropelled machine the soil-treatingimplements by a simple and efiicient device which may be operated tolift all of the implemerits entirely out of the ground .or to anydesired height above the surface of the; ground; to provide a simple andefiicient mechanism for supporting the implements on a carriage andcapable of adjustment and manipulation to secure a uniform tillage toany desirable depth; and to attain certain advantages which. willhereinafter more fully appear.

The invention consists in the parts and in the arran ements andcombinations of parts hereina ter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification andwherein like symbols refer to' like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine illustrating an embodiment ofthe invention; v

Fig. 2 is an enlargedfragmentary view in side elevation, of the endportion of the machine;

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary detail views showing an arrangement ofspeed reducing are for transmitting power from the engine shaft to theraising and lowering mechanism and for driving power-actuatedmiplements;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rear portion of themachine;

Fig/7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the machineadjacent to that shown in Fig. 6;

- Fig. 8 is a substantially horizontal'section taken just below theparts shown in Fig. 6;

It has for its principal ob- 'jects to produce a motor-propelled machineFig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the reversing clutch of the raisingand lowering mechanism for the impiement holder support;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9; p Fig. 11' is asection taken on the line 11-11 of Fig.9; 7

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section through the swivel member in which theoperating nut for the screw of the raising and lowering mechanism ismounted;

Fig. 13 is an end view of said swivel member Fig. 14 is a section on theline 1414: of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line15-15 of Fig.

Fig. 17 is a section on the line 17-17 0? Fig. 16;

big. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 16, but looking toward the side of thescrew; and,

Figs. 19. and 20 are fragmentary views showing the manner of mountingthe pivot 'end of the adjusting screw.

The machine illustrated-in the drawings is shown as comprising acarriage or tractor whose construction is set forth with particularityin an application filed by me on April 1, 1912, Serial No. 687,929.Generally described, the tractor comprises a structural platform or bodyframe 1 mounted at one end on pedestal side frames 2, in which latterare located the propelling traction wheels 3. The opposite end portionof the platform frame is mounted on an auxiliary carrier frame 4 whichin turn is supported on caster wheels 5 whereby the machine may besteered and turned. The specific construction and arrangement of thetractor by itself forms no part of the present invention and no furtherdescription thereof wilt be given in the present application exce t asto such partsthat are necessary to the full understanding of theinvention or enter into the combinations of the claims.

I of the arranged in' pairs in vertical Brackets 6 are mounted on therear end latform frame 1 and also at the bottom 0 the pedestal sideframes. These brackets are provided with bearing ortlons whose axes arein the same vertica plane;

and ivotal members or links 7 are jour on these brackets. These links. 7are lanes and between the upper and lower lin s 7 of each air extends avertical member or bar 8. he pairs of links 7 are connected togethernale two and two by upper and lower tubular cross members 8 and thecross rods 8 and 8" constitute a hinged parallelogram frame, of

which there are two altogether.

Yokes or rockingarms 9 are also journaled on the brackets 6 and haveswivel blocks 10 mounted on their outer ends.

Working in the swivel blocks are nuts 11 through which are threadedscrews 12 whose lower ends are journaled on'the upper cross rods8 of theparallelogram frames. 4

The screws12 may be conveniently mounted by providingblocks 13 on theendsthereof having concaved portions corresponding to the curvature ofthe cross rods 8*, and providing straps 14.- about said rods andsecuring the end ortions to the opposite sides of said blocks.

rotated.

Implement carrier frames or implement holders. 16 are pivotallyconnected at one end to the lower cross rods 8 of the paral lelogramframesand attheir' outer ends to yokes 17 having nuts 18 swiveledthereon 1n which work the screw-threaded portions of rods 19 which arepivotally connected to the cross rods 8 of the parallelogram frames. Theconstruction of the implement holder is set forth more fully in aseparate application Serial No. 704,037 filed herewith. By turning thenuts 18 the. rods 19 are moved longitudinally in either direction,

thereby tiltinglthe implement holder frames to any desira e angle. Byturning .the handwheels' 15, the memberg 7 will be raised and lowered inparallel a so relation, the frames 8 being maintained in verticalposition at all times and the implement carrier frames 16 also remainingin the position to which they are adjusted with respect to said members8. Hence, the implement holder. frames may be set in horizontal positionor at an inclination either upward or downward from the pivot rod 8",and by ach nut 11 is provided with a handwheel 15 whereby it can beeasily adjusting the rocking arms 9 the implements may be made to enterthe ground to any desirable depth.

Swivel members 20having trunnions 21 are mounted on bearings 22 on thecarriage frame. These members 20 have nuts 23 swiveled therein andworking through the nuts are screws 24:. These screws are tubu- .lar,and telescoping therewith are rods 25 whose outer ends are bifurcated asat 26 and pivoted to the yokes 9. The rods areprovided with longitudinalslots 27 through which transverse ins 27 on the tubular screws pass. Byt is arrangement the rod and screw are permitted longitudinal movementwith respect to each other but are prevented from rotating indeendently.

Springs 28 are coiled a out said rods 25 between the bifurcated endportions 26 thereof and the outer ends of said tubular screws 24 so thattheir force is exerted to yieldingly hold the rods extended, theoutermost position of the rods bein limited by the inner ends of theslots-2% contacting with said pins 27. The springs are made sufiicientlystrong to Iprevent the implements from riding out of t e soil, but areadapted to yield in case either of the 'wheels3 of the tractor drop intoa depression or the wheels 5 ride up over a hump of such proportionsthat the supporting mechanism or the implements might be damagedthereby. By this arrangement the rear ortion of the tractor may drop aconsidera le distance or the front portion may rise without afi'ectinthe position of the implements in the soil or causing damage to them orthe carrier mechanism.

Each of the nuts 23 which are journaled in the swivel su orts 20 isprovided with a spiral gear 29. his spiral gear meshes with anotherspiral gear 30 fixed on .a shaft 31 extendin transversely of the machineand journale in bearings 32 on the platform in a plane below thebearings 22 for the swivel supports 20. For convenience is assemblingand adjustment, the nuts 23 are 1{)ournaled in the ends ofscrew-threaded ushings 23. v y i i The swivel members are provided withhousings 33 which inclose the gears 29 and 30 so as to exclude dust andgrit and also provide chambers to hold a lubricant for the gears.

In order to permit of a slight swinging movement of the housings 33, theopenings through which the shaft.31 passes are elongated and enlargeddiametrically; and to prevent dust from enterin the housings,cover-plates 34 are provide These coverplates have perforations whichfit the shaft 31 snugly and arcuate slots 35 are. provided in the platesthrough which screws 36 are inserted into bosses 37 on the outer facesof preferably the housings. By this means the plates rethe cam-actuatedtype.

main stationary with the shaft while the housing is free to move. Therocking motion is very slight at the point where the spiral gears 29 and30 mesh, and the shape of the teeth and play between them'is such thatthe movement is not hindered.

The shaft 31 has a bevel gear 38 fixed thereon which meshes with a bevelinion 39 fixed on a propeller shaft 40 extending longitudinally of themachine and. journaled in bearings 41 (see Fig. 7 On the ropeller shaftis fixed a friction cone 42 w ich is adapted to be engaged alternatelyby friction cones 43 and 44 on a reciprocatory clutch shaft 45. Thisclutch shaft is operated by a lever arm 46 which is connected by a link47 to an operating lever 48. The

clutch is arranged so that when the lever 48 is in vertical position theclutch cones 43 and 44 are both out of engagement with the cone 42. Theclutch may be operated in any suitable manner, but as shown more clearlyin Figs. 9 and 11, it is of That v is, a bearing 49 is rovided with adiagonal slot50 through w ich a pin 51 on a sleeve 52 projects. Thissleeve 52 is mounted to rotate freely in the bearing and also upon theshaft, and the lever arm 46 is rigidly connected to the sleeve,while-collars 53 and 54 are fixed on the shaft 45 at opposite ends ofthe sleeve. Consequently, when the lever arm is rocked in eitherdirection the sleeve is caused to move lengthwise through the bearing.Therefore, the shaft is also moved longitudinally therewith to bringeither of the cones 43, 44 into contact with the cone 42 according tothe direction the lever 48 is moved.

- The shaft 45 carrying the friction clutch cones 43 and 44 is providedwith a sprocket wheel 55 which is driven by a chain 56 con necting itwith a sprocket wheel 57 on a countershaft 58; and to facilitatemounting the first mentioned sprocket wheel 55 midway between the cones43 and 44, the cone 42 is hollowed out to give the necessary clearancere uired to allow said sprocket wheel 55 to s ift sidewise with theshaft 45 as Well as rotate therewith. The counter shaft 58 may deriveits'motion from the engine shaft through the medium of any obvious speedreducing gear. Hence, only a single motor need be. employed forpropelling the machine and operating the various power devices thereon.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the speed reducing gear comprises a pinion 59having a bevel gear 60 fixed thereto, both being loose on thecountershaft 58. The pinion 59 meshes with a ear 61 fixed on a shaft 62above it, which s aft 62 has a pinion 63 fixed thereon and meshing witha gear 64 fixed on the countershaft 58. The bevel gear 60 meshes with abevel pinion 60 on the engine shaft 60 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3).

As above stated, the two clutch cones 43, 44 are normally out of contactwith the cone 42 so that the shaft 45 may be driven continuously.Therefore, .when it is desired to raise the implement holders or dragframes, it is only necessary to move the controlling lever 48 in thedirection to throw the particular clutch cone 43 or 44 into contact withthe cone 42 so as to rotate the nuts 23 in the. proper direction to pullthe screws 24. When the implement holders have reached the desiredelevation, the lever 48 is restored to neutral position, therebyshifting the friction cones to neutral position, the other partsremaining in the position they have just reached, until the lever is'thrown in the reverse direction and the nuts 23 are rotated in thedirection to move the screws 24 outward to lower the implement holders.

The endwise movement of the screws 24 is limited by collars 24 and 24 attheir ends which are adapted to contact with the swivel bushings 23.Thus, in case the 'operator fails to restore the controlling lever atthe proper time, the collars serve to stop the movement of'the screwsand operating gears back to the friction cone 42, the cone 43 or 44, asthe case may be, slipping on said cone 42 and permitting the powertransmlssion to continue operating.

In order to drive power-actuated implements, transverse shafts 65 arejournaled on the vertical members 8, with their axes in line with theaxes of the cross rods 8* and 8 and a shaft 66 extending the entirewidth of the machine is journaled' on brackets 67 at the rear of thepedestal side frames 2 in line with the axes of the hearings, in thebrackets 6. On these shafts are fixed sprocket wheels 68 and 69,respectively, which are connected by a sprocket chain 76. The shafts 65and 66 are located at the same relative distance between the respectivepivots of the parallelogram frame, so that their correlation is notdisturbed when said parallelogram frame is moved up or down. The shaft66 is provided with asprocket wheel 7 which is driven by a sprocketchain 72 runnmgover a sprocket wheel 73 fixed on a shaft 74. This shaft74 is provided with a spur gear 7 5 which meshes with a larger gear 7 6on a shaft 77 vertically above it. The second mentioned shaft 77 has asprocket wheel 7 8 fixed thereon and driven by a sprocket chain 7 9running around a sprocket wheel 80 fixed on said countershaft 58.-

The power-actuated implements may be colters, disks, stubble shavers,cotton choppers, etc. In fact, numerous devices which of themselves formnopart of the present invention and are not shown in the drawings, itbeing deemed sufficient for the pur-' pose of this specification tomerely state that the power may be taken in any suitable man withoutdisturbin her from the shafts 65, and that said shafts may be geared torotate at any desirable speed. I

What I claim is:

1. Ina machine of the character described, a tractor having" a bodyframe, a hinged parallelogram frame pivotally connected to said bodyframe and. projecting from the rear thereof, an implement holder frameadjustably supported from said parallelogram frame, an arm pivotallymounted on the body frame of said tractor to Swing vertically, anadjustable link connecting said parallelogram frame and said arm, and

means for swinging said arm, said means having a determinate range ofmovement.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination Witha-traveling carriage, of an-implement holder, means for supporting saidim lement holder'on said carriage in a particu ar working positionrelative to the ground, said means including an adjusting device for varing the location of the implement holder a ove the ground withoutdisturbing its particular working relation, and a device cooperatingwith said adjusting device to support said holder and being yieldable inone direction to permit inde pendent vertical movement of the carriagedowgward and the implement holder upwar 3. In a machine of'thecharacterdescribed,

the combination with a traveling carriage,

of an implement holder, means for support-v direction respectively.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with atraveling carriage,

of an implement .holder, means for sup porting said implement holdercompnsin upright frame members, parallel upper an lower members hin Iupright frame mem ers'and at their opposite ends to the carriage, a'yokepivoted at one end to said carriage and having a swivel block at itsopposite end, a nut rotatably fitted in said swivel block, a rod pivotedat one endto the upright framemembers/and having its 0 posite endportion screwthreaded and tted in said nut, a second rodpivoted to saidyoke, and means cooperating with said last mentioned rod for raising andlowering said implement holder.

d" at one end to the frame pivotally connected to said the combinationwith a carriage, of an implement holder, and a support for said holdercomprising a hinged parallelogram frame mounted on said carriage, anadjust able link device hinged on said carriage and operativelyconnected with said parallelogram frame, a swivel member mounted on saidcarria e, a connection between said adjustable lmk device and saidswivel member including a nut swiveled on said swivel membertransversely to the axis of the latter and a screw Working endwisethrough said nut, and means for rotating said nut. I 6. In a machine ofthe character described, the combination with a carriage, of animplement holder, and a support for said holder comprising a hingedparallelogram frame mounted on said carriage, an adjustable link devicehinged on said carriage and operatively connected with said parallelogram frame, a swivel'member mounted on said carnage, a connectlonbetween said adjustable link device and said swivel mem- 4 ber includinga nut swiveled on said, swivel member transversely to the a ds thereof,a screw working endwise through said nut,a rod hinged to saidadjustable, link device and slidably engaging said screw, resilientmeans for holding said rod and screw normally in extended relation, andmeans for rotating said nut.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with acarriage, of an implement holder, ,and a iupport for said holderincluding a hing d parallelo ram frame mounted on said carriage, an ajustable link device hinged on said carriage and operatively connectedtosaid parallelogram frame, a swivel member mounted on 'said carriage, anut swiveled on said swivel member at right angles to the axis of thelatter, a tubular screw; working endwise through said nut, a rod hingedto said adjustable link device and fitted slidably in said screw,saidrod and screw having a slot and pin connection whereby they are heldfrom rotating independent of each other but are permitted endwisemovement with respect to each other, and means for rotating said hat.

8. In a machine of the character described,

a tractor having a body frame carried on traction wheels, a hingedparallelogram frame adjacent to said traction wheels, an implementholder frame pivotally connected at one end to said arallelogram frameand extendin substantially hor1zontally,an adjustable I holder frame andsaid parallelogram frame, and power driven meansmounted on said tractorand having a resilient connection to said parallelogram frame forraising and lowering said arallelogram frame.

ody

race connecting said implement I I65 5-. In .a machine of the characterdescribed, In a machlne of the character described,

a tractor adapted for straddle row cultivation, a hinged parallelogramframe pivotally connected to said tractor near each side thereof, animplement holder frame adjustably supported from each paralleld gramframe and extending substantially horizontally, arms pivotally mountedon said tractor, adjustable means connecting each of said arms and thecorresponding parallelogram frame, and means for swinging said arms,said means having a determinate range of movement.

10. In a machine of the character a described, the combination with acarriage, of a hinged parallelogram frame mounted on said carriage so asto swing vertically, an implement holder frame hinged at one end to saidparallelogram frame so as to swing vertically, an adjustable connectionbetween the opposite end of said implement holder frame and saidparallelogram frame whereby said implement holder frame may be supportedhorizontally or at an inclination, an adjustable link device hinged onsaid carriage and 'operatively connected to said parallelogramhorizontally and also at an inclination, an-

adjustable link device comprising a member pivoted on said carriage anda member pivoted to the parallelogram frame, one of said members havinga swivel block thereon, said block having a nut swiveled thereintransverse to the axis thereof, and the other member having a screwportion working through said nut, and means on said carriage 006peratingwith said adjustable link device for supporting and for raising andlowering said parallelogram frame with the implement holder framethereon.

12. In amachine of the character described, the combination with acarriage, of a hinged parallelogram frame mounted on said carriage so asto swing vertically, an implement holder frame hinged at one end to saidarallelo m frame so as to swing vertical y, an ad ustable connectionbetween the opposite on of said implement holder frame and saidparallelogram frame, whereby said implement holder frame may besupported horizontally and also at an inclination, an adjustable linkdevice com rising a member hinged onsaid carriage an a member pivoted tothe parallelogram frame one of said members having a swivel blockthereon, said block having a nut swiveled therein transverse to the axisthereof, and the other member having a screw portion working throughsaid nut, a rodhinged at one end to thereof and working on said tubularscrew,

and means for rotating said nut.

13. In amachine of the character described, the combination with acarriage, of a hinged parallelogram frame mounted on said carriage soasto swing vertically, an implement holder frame hinged at one end tosaid parallelogram frame so as to swing vertically, an adjustableconnection betweenthe opposite end of said'implement holder frame andsaid parallelogram frame, whereby said implement holder frame may besupported horizontally and also at an inclination, an adjustable linkdevice comprising a member hinged on said carriage and a member pivotedto. the parallelogram frame, one of said members having aswivel blockthereon, said block, having a nut swiveled therein transverse to theaxis thereof, and the other memher having a screw portion workingthrough said nut, a bar hinged at one end to said ad.- justable linkdevice, a tubular screw sleeved on said bar, said screw and bar beingcon- ,nected so that they may move lengthwise with respect to each otherbut are interlocked against rotation, said rod having a shoulder and aspring coiled thereon and acting against said shoulder and the end ofsaid tubular screw, a horizontal swivel member on said carriage, a nutswiveled on said swivel member transverse to the axis thereof andworking on said tubular screw and means for rotating said nut. 1'

- 14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of atractor, a hinged parallelogram frame pivotally connected to saidtractor, an implement carrier frame pivotally connected to saidparallelogram frame. an adjustable brace connection between said carrierframe and said parallelogram frame, and means for raising and loweringsaid parallelogram frame.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination with atractor,

adapted for straddle row cultivation, of a pair of hinged parallelogramframes pivotally connected to the rear of said tractor, saidparallelogram frames being disposed 'one upon each side of thelongitudinal medial line of said tractor, an implement carrier framepivotally connected at one end to each of said parallelogram frames, an

said adjustable link device, a tubular screw 1 .adjustable connectionbetween the other end of each implement carrier frame and thecorresponding "parallelogram frame, and means for simultaneousl raisingand lower= ing said parallelogram ames.

16. In a machme of the character described, a motor-driven vehiclehaving a frame, a hinged parallelogram frame pivotally connected to saidvehicle frame, soiltreating implements supported by said parallelogramframe, a power-driven sprocket wheel journaled on said vehicle frame, asecond sprocket wheel journaled on said parallelogram frame, the axes ofsaid sprocket wheels being located in a line parallel with therearwardly extendin arms of said parallelogram frame, and a c ain connecting saidsprocket wheels.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination with atractor, of

an implement carrier frame supported thereby, mechanism mounted on saidtractor for raising and lowering said implement carrier frame, andadjustable and yieldable means connecting said carrier frame with saidmechanism, said mechanism during the movement of lowering said carrierframe automatically stopiping at a predetermined point to place sa1carrier frame at a predetermined position relative to the ground.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination with atractor having a frame, of two pairs of parallel upper and lower links,said pairs of links being arranged in parallel plane s, pivotsconnectingone end of said upper and lower links to said frame, and a pair ofvertical members pivoted by tubular members to theother ends of saidpairs of links, said tubular members extending between the corresponding-links of said pairs of links.

.19. In a machine of the character described, the combination with atractor, of

rier frame ivotally connected to said parallelogram rame, an adjustablebrace conarranged in parallel planes, pivots connecting one end of saidupper and lower links to said frame, a pair of vertical members pivotedby tubular members to the other v ends of said pairs of links, a rockingmember formed of two braced divergent arms, the divergent ends of said 1arms being mounted on said pivots first-mentioned, a

brace pivoted at one end to one of said tubular members and adjustablyconnected to said rocking member and means for rocking said rockingmember.

21. In a machine of the character described, a tractor having a bodyframe, a hinged parallelogram frame pivotally connected to said bodyframe, earth-working implements supported by said parallelogram frame,and resilient means operable by otperatively connected to said r powerderived'fromthe motor which drives Said tractor for raising and loweringsaid parallelogram frame, said means during the movement of loweringsaid parallelogram frame automatically stopping at a predeterminedpoint.

Signed at St. "Louis, Missouri, this 11th day of June, 1912. .f WILLIAMG. ZELLE.

Witnesses: v

G. A. PENNINGTON, PAULINE Ammo.

